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OSHA Sets Sights on Temporary Workers The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has directed its Compliance Safety and Health Officers to take additional steps during inspections to determine whether employers are adequately protecting temporary workers. OSHA will consider "temporary workers" to include those who "work under a host employer/staffing agency employment structure." Pursuant to a memo issued to OSHA regional administrators, CSHOs are directed to collect information on whether temporary workers have been trained or exposed to health and safety hazards. Read the full post here. (May 1)

EEOC to Discuss Legality of Employee Wellness ProgramsThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission intends to hold a public meeting next week to address the interplay between employee wellness programs and various federal equal employment opportunity laws. Several panelists will discuss how implementing wellness programs could raise issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), and other EEOC-enforced statutes.Read the full post here. (May 1)

Jenny Yang Confirmed as New EEOC MemberOn April 25, 2013, the Senate confirmed Jenny R. Yang to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to fill the open Democratic seat. Her term will expire on July 1, 2007. Read the full post here. (April 29)

House of Representatives Passes Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act On Friday the House of Representatives narrowly passed the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act (H.R. 1120) by a vote of 219-209. The measure was approved largely along party lines, although 10 Republican members did vote against it. This bill would limit National Labor Relations Board activities until at least three members are confirmed by the Senate, President Obama's recess appointees' terms expire, or until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on the legitimacy of the recess appointments. Read the full post here. (April 20)

House Subcommittee Considers Comp Time BillJust days after it was introduced, the Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406) was debated during a House subcommittee hearing on Thursday. Introduced by Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL), this bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to permit private-sector employees to opt for paid time off ("comp time") at a rate of at least one-and-one-half hours of compensatory time per hour of overtime pay earned. Read the full post here. (April 11)

Senate Fails to Consider NLRB Defunding Amendment, Approves Other Amendments to Budget ResolutionThe Senate approved a budget resolution last week that omits an amendment that would have withheld funds from the National Labor Relations Board to prevent it from enforcing decisions or regulations issued after three members were seated to the Board via recess appointment on January 4, 2012. Read the full post here. (March 28)

Supreme Court Concludes Second Day of Oral Arguments on Same-Sex Marriage IssueThe U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in United States v. Windsor, the case in which the Second Circuit Court of Appeals declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional. Read the full post here. (March 27)

Paid Sick Leave Bill Reintroduced in Both Chambers The Healthy Families Act (H.R. 1286, S. 631) would allow employees to earn one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 56 hours (seven days) annually. Read the full post here. (March 21)

House Committee Approves Bill Limiting NLRB Activities Until Recess Appointment Issue Is Resolved The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved along party lines the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act (H.R. 1120), which would require the NLRB to suspend all activities that require a three member quorum and prohibit the enforcement of any quorum-required action taken after President Obama seated three members via recess appointment on January 4, 2012. Read the full post here. (March 20)

Thomas Perez Nominated as Labor Secretary amid Controversy President Obama has officially named a nominee to replace Hilda Solis as the next Secretary of the Department of Labor: Thomas Perez, who since 2009 has served as the Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. Read the full post here. (March 18)

NMB Updates Representation ManualThe National Mediation Board (NMB) has made revisions to its Representation Manual to reflect the voting process and election procedure changes made by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and related implementing regulations, as well as to include a new requirement related to the List of Potential Eligible Voters that employers must provide the NMB. Read the full post here. (March 13)

Legislation Introduced in the Weeks of February 25 & March 4, 2013During this period measures were introduced in the House and Senate that address such topics as the minimum wage, employment taxes, labor-management relations and National Labor Relations Board Authority, wage and hour restrictions, and medical marijuana. Read the full post here. (March 11)

OFCCP Formally Rescinds Two Compensation Discrimination Guidance Documents and Issues Related Directive on New Procedures for Reviewing Contractor Compensation SystemsIn conjunction with its formal rescission of the 2006 Standards and Guidelines, OFCCP issued a Directive that describes the procedures its compliance officers will now use when reviewing contractor compensation systems and practices. Read the full post here. (February 28)

Legislative RoundupBefore adjourning for a week-long President's Day recess, members of Congress introduced several bills addressing such issues as the use of an individual's credit and/or bankruptcy history in employment; OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program; minimum wage for tipped employees; and OFCCP and NLRB rulemaking. Read the full post here. (February 22)

OSHA Releases Interim Final Rule and Request for Comments on Affordable Care Act Whistleblower Protection ProvisionsThe interim final rule sets forth the procedures and timeframes for handling retaliation complaints under section 18C of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which prohibits an employer from retaliating against an employee for, among other things, receiving a federal tax credit or subsidy to purchase insurance through the employer or a future health insurance exchange; interim rule addresses agency's investigation, hearing, and appeals procedures. Read the full post here. (February 22)

Littler Shareholder Kerry Notestine Testifies about WARN Issues at Congressional HearingDuring a hearing conducted by the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Littler Shareholder Kerry Notestine outlined the potential pitfalls in relying on recent Department of Labor and Office of Management and Budget guidances regarding an employer's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act responsibilities as the specter of massive budget cuts looms. Read the full post here. (February 15)

EEOC to Hold Public Meeting to Provide Update on Strategic PlanThe Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has announced its intent to provide an update on its implementation of the Commission's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2012-2016, which outlines the agency's goals and achievement benchmarks for enforcing the various anti-discrimination laws under its jurisdiction, as well as its mission to carry out education and outreach efforts. Read the full post here. (February 15)

OFCCP Issues Directive on the Use of Criminal Records in HiringThe DOL's Office of Contract Compliance Programs has issued a new directive advising federal contractors and subcontractors about potential discriminatory liability that could result from using criminal records as a screening device. Read the full post here. (February 7)

DOL Issues Final Rule Implementing FMLA Amendments Expanding Military-Related Leave Entitlements and Availability of Leave for Flight Crew MembersThe Department of Labor has released a final rule that implements the Family and Medical Leave Act amendments made by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 and the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act. Read the full post here. (February 5)